In-line skate with auxiliary wheel, auxiliary wheel and method

Abstract

An in-line skate has an auxiliary wheel rotatably mounted in a raised position relative the primary wheels at the side of the longitudinal alignment of primary wheels. A conventional in-line skate can be retrofitted with an auxiliary-wheel assembly having an auxiliary wheel mounted for rotation on an axle journalled onto a mounting member, which assembly can be easily attached to a conventional in-line skate. Using such an in-line skate, a hockey stop can be readily performed in a method of in-line skating.

I claim:  
     
       1. A hockey-stop facilitating in-line skate comprised of: 
       a foot-retention member;  
       a primary-wheel assembly affixed to the bottom of said foot-retention member;  
       said primary-wheel assembly having a wheel-mounting frame, a plurality of primary wheels positioned in a longitudinal alignment, and a plurality of primary-wheel axles;  
       said wheel-mounting frame is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members;  
       said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members on separate primary-wheel axles, each of said primary-wheel axles bridging said flange members and being journalled therein; and  
       an auxiliary-wheel assembly having an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel axle, and a mounting member having first and second arm members having overlapping sections,  
       said auxiliary wheel is rotatably mounted on said auxiliary-wheel axle, said auxiliary-wheel axle is journalled onto said first and second arm members of said mounting member at said overlapping sections,  
       said first and second arm members of said mounting member are each mounted on said primary-wheel axles on sections thereof extending beyond one of said flange members,  
       whereby said auxiliary wheel is mounted on said skate at the side of said longitudinal alignment of primary wheels in a raised position relative a plurality of said primary wheels.  
     
     
       2. The in-line skate of  claim 1  wherein: 
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members in a position raised at least one-half inch relative a plurality of said primary wheels.  
     
     
       3. The in-line skate of  claim 1  wherein: 
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members in a position raised at least one inch relative a plurality of said primary wheels.  
     
     
       4. The in-line skate of  claim 2  wherein: 
       said foot-retention member is formed with an inner side and an outer side corresponding to respectively the inner and outer sides of a human foot;  
       said pair of flange members is comprised of an inner flange member positioned towards the inner side of said foot-retention member and an outer flange member positioned towards said outer side of said foot-retention member; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of said inner flange member.  
     
     
       5. The in-line skate of  claim 2  wherein: 
       said foot-retention member is a shoe boot formed with an inner side and an outer side corresponding to respectively the inner and outer sides of a human foot;  
       said pair of flange members is comprised of an inner flange member positioned towards the inner side of said foot-retention member and an outer flange member positioned towards said outer side of said foot-retention member;  
       said primary-wheel assembly further including at least one cross brace mounted between said pair of flange members; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at said inner flange member.  
     
     
       6. The in-line skate of  claim 2  wherein the lower-most point of said auxiliary wheel is about one inch higher than the lower-most point of said primary wheels. 
     
     
       7. A hockey-stop facilitating auxiliary-wheel assembly for an in-line skate comprising: 
       an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary-wheel axle, and a mounting member having a pair of arm members, said arm members having overlapping sections and each having a distal end and a skate-mounting orifice,  
       said auxiliary wheel being mounted for rotation on said auxiliary-wheel axle, said auxiliary-wheel axle being journalled onto said mounting member about mid-way between said distal ends of said first and second arm members.  
     
     
       8. The auxiliary-wheel assembly of  claim 7  wherein auxiliary wheel is adjustable from a high to a low position relative said mounting member. 
     
     
       9. A method of in-line skating comprised of: 
       securing to the skater's feet a pair of in-line skates comprising a first and a second skate, at least said first skate having (a) a foot-retention member, (b) a primary-wheel assembly affixed to the bottom of said foot-retention member, said primary-wheel assembly having a wheel-mounting frame, a plurality of primary wheels mounted on a plurality of primary-wheel axles, and (c) an auxiliary-wheel assembly having an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel axle, and a mounting member having first and second arm members having overlapping sections, said auxiliary wheel being rotatably mounted on said auxiliary-wheel axle, said auxiliary-wheel axle being journalled onto said first and second arm members of said mounting member at said overlapping sections, said first and second arm members of said mounting member being each mounted on said primary-wheel axles, whereby said auxiliary wheel is mounted on said skate at the side of said primary wheels in a raised position relative a plurality of said primary wheels;  
       then skating on a skating surface with a forward motion; and  
       then performing a hockey stop arresting said forward motion by turning said skates transverse to the direction of said forward motion with said first skate forward-most relative to the to the direction of motion and inclining said first skate away from the direction of forward motion both until said auxiliary wheel touches said skating surface concomitantly with said primary wheels of said first skate and to a sufficient degree from upright to perform a hockey stop without falling.  
     
     
       10. The method of in-line skating of  claim 9  wherein said wheel-mounting frame of said first skate is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members and said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members, further including: 
       mounting said auxiliary-wheel assembly at the outside surface of one of said flange members.  
     
     
       11. The method of in-line skating of  claim 9  wherein 
       said first and second arm members are mounted on adjacent primary-wheel axles.  
     
     
       12. A hockey-stop facilitating in-line skate comprised of: 
       a foot-retention member;  
       a primary-wheel assembly affixed to the bottom of said foot-retention member;  
       said primary-wheel assembly having a wheel-mounting frame and a plurality of primary wheels positioned in a longitudinal alignment; and  
       an auxiliary-wheel assembly having an auxiliary wheel rotatably mounted on said skate in a position raised at least one-half inch relative a plurality of said primary wheels at the side of said longitudinal alignment of primary wheels.  
     
     
       13. The in-line skate of  claim 12  wherein: 
       said wheel-mounting frame is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members;  
       said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members.  
     
     
       14. The in-line skate of  claim 12  wherein: 
       said wheel-mounting frame is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members;  
       said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members on separate primary-wheel axles, each of said axles bridging said flange members and being journalled therein; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members on a plurality of said primary-wheel axles.  
     
     
       15. The in-line skate of  claim 12  wherein: 
       said foot-retention member is formed with an inner side and an outer side corresponding to respectively the inner and outer sides of a human foot;  
       said pair of flange members is comprised of an inner flange member positioned towards the inner side of said foot-retention member and an outer flange member positioned towards said outer side of said foot-retention member; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of said inner flange member.  
     
     
       16. The in-line skate of  claim 12  wherein said auxiliary wheel is mounted on said skate in a position raised at least one inch relative a plurality of said primary wheels. 
     
     
       17. The in-line skate of  claim 16  wherein: 
       said wheel-mounting frame is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members;  
       said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members.  
     
     
       18. The in-line skate of  claim 16  wherein: 
       said wheel-mounting frame is comprised of a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart flange members;  
       said primary wheels are mounted between said flange members on separate primary-wheel axles, each of said axles bridging said flange members and being journalled therein; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of one of said flange members on a plurality of said primary-wheel axles.  
     
     
       19. The in-line skate of  claim 16  wherein: 
       said foot-retention member is formed with an inner side and an outer side corresponding to respectively the inner and outer sides of a human foot;  
       said pair of flange members is comprised of an inner flange member positioned towards the inner side of said foot-retention member and an outer flange member positioned towards said outer side of said foot-retention member; and  
       said auxiliary-wheel assembly is mounted at the outside surface of said inner flange member.  
     
     
       20. A method of in-line skating comprised of: 
       securing to the skater's feet a pair of in-line skates comprising a first and a second skate, at least said first skate having (a) a foot-retention member, (b) a primary-wheel assembly affixed to the bottom of said foot-retention member, said primary-wheel assembly having a wheel-mounting frame and a plurality of primary wheels, and (c) an auxiliary-wheel assembly having an auxiliary wheel, said auxiliary wheel being rotatably mounted on said skate at the side of said primary wheels in a position raised at least one-half inch relative to a plurality of said primary wheels;  
       then skating on a skating surface with a forward motion; and  
       then performing a hockey stop arresting said forward motion by turning said skates transverse to the direction of said forward motion with said first skate forward-most relative to the direction of motion and inclining said first skate away from the direction of forward motion both until said auxiliary wheel touches said skating surface concomitantly with said primary wheels of said first skate and to a sufficient degree from upright to perform a hockey stop without falling.  
     
     
       21. The method of in-line skating of  claim 20  wherein said auxiliary wheel is mounted in a position raised at least one inch relative to a plurality of said primary wheels.